Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. The Growth of the Seaport Towns
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
.GROWTH OF THE SEAPORT TOWNS 23
Carlingford Loughs, west to Leixlip, south to Wicklow,
Wexford 1
and even as far as Waterford. The Dublin kings
intermarried with royal families in Ireland, England and
Scotland, and between the years 919 and 950 ruled, though
in somewhat broken succession, as Kings of York.
Limerick (O.N. Hlymrek)
2
,
the great stronghold on the
west coast^ had no existence as a city before the ninth
century. It was first occupied during the reign of Turgeis
by Vikings, who used the harbour as a base for their ships.
3
The only chieftains mentioned in connection with this
kingdom during the ninth century are Hona and Tomrir
Torra (O.N. Th6rarr Th6rri), who were slain about the
year 860 in attempting to capture Waterford. 4
A few years
later Barith (O.N. Barthr) and Haimar (O.N. Heimarr)
when marching through Connacht on their way to Limerick,
were attacked by the Connachtmen and forced to retreat.*
The real importance of Limerick, however, dates from the
early part of the tenth century when it was colonised by
Vikings under Tomar (Th6rir) son of Elgi (O.N. Helgi).
To secure the fort against attack an earthen mound was
built all round, and gates were placed at certain distances
Guthfrith went with his forces to relieve it. In 927 the
"
foreigners
of I,inn Duachaill
"
accompanied Guthfrith when he marched on
York. See Steenstrup, op. cit., III., p. 115.
x
Wexford was also governed by earls. One of them, Accolb, is
mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 928.
8 The Irish name Luimnech (hence O.N. Hlymrek) was originally
applied to the estuary of the Shannon, but was afterwards confined
to the town itself when it had risen to importance under Scandinavian
rule.
8 Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 843 ;
War of the Gaedhil with
the Gaill, p. 8.
*Three Fragments of Annals, pp. 167, 144-6. War of the Gaedhil
with the Gaill, ch. 23.
*Three Fragments of Annals, pp. 173-175 ; Chronicon Scotnrum,
A..D. 887.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
